(File photo) MANILA - The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has extended the order barring personnel at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) from going on vacation until the end of January. "No application for leave during this period will be entertained or approved and all filed leaves are hereby canceled to ensure that we have enough personnel to service the traveling public," BI Port Operations Division (POD) chief Carlos Capulong said in a statement Tuesday. The order, which started last December 16 before the holiday season, lapsed last January 15. Capulong said the directive was issued to ensure the BI's unhampered airport operations amid the increasing number of Covid-19 cases among personnel. As of Monday, a total of 138 BI-POD personnel have tested positive for the virus. An additional 129 employees remain on quarantine while waiting for the results of their swab tests. On the other hand, 99 other personnel tested negative and have returned to work. Last week,
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) assured the traveling public of uninterrupted service at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and other ports despite the resurgence of COVID-19 cases in the country. BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said there will be no reduction in manpower deployed at the Ni
(File photo) MANILA - The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Wednesday assured travelers of uninterrupted service despite the reduction of manpower at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) terminals and other ports due to a surge in coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases in the country. Commissioner Jaime Morente said BI personnel will continue to serve the public to ensure a hassle-free service. "There will be no diminution in the duty days of our port personnel as we are duty-bound to ensure that all international travelers who enter and exit our borders get the most efficient and hassle-free immigration service from our officers," he said in a statement. At the same time, the BI chief directed lawyer Carlos Capulong, acting port operations division (POD) chief, to maintain the present work scheme and schedule of immigration personnel assigned at the airports. "In the past several weeks we have seen a steady increase in the volume of international passengers ente
The number of international travelers during the New Year holiday increased almost 100 percent compared to last yea, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported on Monday, Jan. 3. BI Commissioner Jaime Morente bared that on the New Year's eve and during the New Year, the number of arriving passengers
(File photo) MANILA - The number of international travelers during the last day of 2021 and the first day of the new year almost doubled compared to last year, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported on Monday. In a statement, Commissioner Jaime Morente said New Year's Eve and New Year's Day saw 10,140 arrivals while there were only 5,791 during the same two-day period in 2020-2021. The number of departing passengers also increased to 6,951 from 3,770. "The trend shows a steady improvement in the number of travelers. While the figures remain low, this is a significant improvement from last year. We're hoping to see better numbers this 2022," he stated. BI Port Operations Division chief, lawyer Carlos Capulong, also reported that airport operations were "smooth" during the holiday season. "We ensured that our manpower was maximized as we anticipated an increase in travelers. We also ensured that our e-gates are serviceable to be able to ease lines an